Pope to Pelosi

Deal W. Hudson Benedict XVI met only 15 minutes with Speaker Nancy Pelosi today in the Vatican. Photographers and reporters were not allowed in the room. The Vatican then released a text of the Pope's remarks to Pelosi, which were pointed on the subject of protecting unborn life.

Here is what the AP is reporting:

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday told U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, that Catholic politicians have a duty to protect life "at all stages of its development," the Vatican said.

Pelosi is the first top Democrat to meet with Benedict since the election of Barack Obama, who won a majority of the Catholic vote despite differences with the Vatican on abortion.

The Vatican released remarks by the pope to Pelosi, saying Benedict spoke of the church's teaching "on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death." That is an expression often used by the pope when expressing opposition to abortion. -Read More